chapter siete

I return to my spot on the shore and sat in despair. It's like me to mess up with the people I love. It's what happened to my mom. (I just hit a sore spot, didn't I?)

"Oy, what happened here?" I looked up to see who's voice that was. It definitely wasn't Calypso, and there was no one else on this island. I looked behind me and saw a middle aged woman in a flower patterned dress. She was sitting on a rock. On her lap was a small girl, her daughter probably, who was forming a flower crown in her delicate hands. All around the rock were lots of groups of flowers in all different colors. "It looks like this place could use a bit of freshening up," the older woman said, looking around. Then she whispered something to her daughter, who nodded, got off her mother's lap, ran over to me, and placed the flower crown on my curly hair. I must've looked pretty stupid. She giggled at the sight.

"I'm Persephone," the girl said in a cute voice. 

"Persephone?" My voice was full of confusion. Persephone smiled and nodded. Then she flipped her hair and danced back to her mother. I looked at her mother. "Demeter?" I guessed. Demeter nodded. I stood up and bowed. "Demeter, will you help me revive these trees?"

"I will, Leo Valdez, but I want something in return."

I was starting to get worried now because whenever the gods want something, it's usually a sacrifice, but I said, "I will do my best to fulfill your request."

Demeter bend down to whisper something to her daughter. Persephone thought for a few seconds, and then whispered something back. I could make out Demeter's "are you sure?" and Persephone's "yes, mother."

Demeter turned back to me and said, "Son of Heptaestus, my daughter has asked for a new toy."

"A toy?" I repeated. I wasn't sure if I heard that right.

"Yes. Go on Persephone, tell the nice boy what kind of toy you want." Demeter gave Persephone a gentle push. Persephone ran up to me. She put her arms around my neck and brought my ear down to her mouth.

"I want a pegasus, just like Hercules had one," she whispered.

"A pegasus?" I asked.

"But don't worry. I don't want a real pegasus—they're rude and crazy—I want a toy pegasus." She opened her arms out wide. "This big." I smiled. She was so cute.

"Okay, sweetie, you got it," I promised.